Laundry treating appliance for drying laundry

ABSTRACT

A method of operating a laundry treating appliance with a combination washer/dryer having a cabinet defining an interior, a tub located within the interior, and a rotatable drum located within the tub interior and defining a treating chamber, and an air recirculation conduit, the method comprising supplying water to the treating chamber, rotating the drum, and draining the water from the laundry treating appliance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/939,168, filed Nov. 22, 2019, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Laundry treating appliances, such as washing machines, combinationwasher/dryers, refreshers, and non-aqueous systems, can have aconfiguration based on a rotating drum that at least partially defines atreating chamber in which laundry items are placed for treating. Thelaundry treating appliance can have a controller that implements anumber of user-selectable, pre-programmed cycles of operation having oneor more operating parameters. Hot water, cold water, or a mixturethereof, along with various treating chemistries, can be supplied to thetreating chamber in accordance with the cycle of operation. In addition,hot air, cold air, or a mixture thereof can be supplied to the treatingchamber in accordance with the cycle of operation and via an air flowassembly.

In laundry treating appliances with drying systems, typically an airflow circuit moves process air through the treating chamber to evaporatewater from a load of laundry items via an inlet and an outlet in thetreating chamber. A filter can be placed in an air flow circuit to aidin the capture, or reduction of lint from the air flow within thelaundry treating appliance.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of removinglint from a lint filter by rotating a drum within tub to move liquid inthe tub onto the lint filter. The rotation speed profile can becontrolled along with the amount of liquid to effect the removal of lintfrom the lint filter.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method ofcleaning a lint filter in a combination washer/dryer having a tub, acontroller, a drum rotatably mounted within the tub, an air conduithaving a port fluidly connected to the tub, and a lint filter fluidlycoupled to the portion and located in the tub. The method determineswhether a previous cycle performed by the combination washer/dryer was adry cycle, determines whether the single dose dispenser is selected forthe current cycle, supplies a charge of water sufficient to at leastpartially immerse the drum while not immersing the lint filter androtates the drum for a predetermined period of time if the controllerdetermines the previous cycle was a dry cycle and the single dosedispenser is not selected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a laundrytreating appliance illustrated as a combination washer/dryer accordingto an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of a control system of the laundrytreating appliance of FIG. 1 according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart of a method of operating the laundry treatingappliance of FIG. 1 according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a schematic illustration of the method of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a method of operating the laundry treatingappliance of FIG. 1 incorporating the method of FIG. 3A according to anaspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method of removing lint or flufffrom portions of an interior of a combination washing and drying machineafter a dry cycle and before a washing cycle. Laundry treatingappliances can be provided with structures and functionality both forwashing and drying laundry items within a single appliance. In the caseof such a combination washing and drying appliance, in addition to thecomponents provided in a traditional washing machine, additionalcomponents for drying laundry items are also provided within theappliance. Non-limiting examples of such drying components include anair flow pathway, including an air inlet and an air outlet to the tubinterior, a condenser, a blower, a heating element, and a filter.

In traditional combination washing and drying machines, lint or flufffrom the laundry items can deposit on interior walls of a treatingchamber as well as onto one or more filters in the air flow pathwayfilter drying cycle. In a subsequent washing cycle, the lint or flufffrom the previous drying cycle can deposit on the laundry items duringthe washing cycle. Further, the accumulation of lint on the filtersduring operation can negatively affect performance of the laundryappliance, specifically during drying phases. The lint can, for example,accumulate at an inlet of the drying air duct (e.g., inlet of arecirculation system, or blower) and restrict the airflow from the tubto the drying air duct, therefore, reducing the drying efficiency of thelaundry treating appliance and wasted energy resources. In the presentdisclosure, a combination washing and drying machine includes a lintcleanout routine to wash lint from the interior of the tub and thefilter and drain the lint from the appliance prior to beginning the washcycle. The lint cleanout routine can be implemented as a stand-alonecycle of operation or as an add-on to another cycle of operation.

The present disclosure also includes a strategy for when to implementthe lint clean out routine. The implementation of the lint cleanoutroutine is not typically needed if there has not been a drying phase orcycle of operation. While combo machines are typically run withback-to-back wash and dry cycles of operation, they can be operated withjust a wash cycle of operation or just a dry cycle of operation. If alint cleanout routine is run after a stand alone wash cycle ofoperation, there is little to no lint to remove and implementing thelint cleanout routine is not an efficient use of resources. Thus, thepresent disclosure looks to various ways of determining when a dryingcycle of operation has occurred, be it stand-alone or in combinationwith a wash cycle of operation. The lint cleanout routine can be runafter a drying cycle of operation has occurred or after a predeterminednumber of drying cycles.

Laundry treating appliances are typically categorized as either avertical axis laundry treating appliance or a horizontal axis laundrytreating appliance. As used herein, the term “horizontal axis” laundrytreating appliance refers to a laundry treating appliance having arotatable drum that rotates about a generally horizontal axis relativeto a surface that supports the laundry treating appliance. The drum canrotate about the axis inclined relative to the horizontal axis, withfifteen degrees of inclination being one example of the inclination.Similar to the horizontal axis laundry treating appliance, the term“vertical axis” laundry treating appliance refers to a laundry treatingappliance having a rotatable drum that rotates about a generallyvertical axis relative to a surface that supports the laundry treatingappliance. However, the rotational axis need not be perfectly verticalto the surface. The drum can rotate about an axis inclined relative tothe vertical axis, with fifteen degrees of inclination being one exampleof the inclination.

Regardless of the axis of rotation, a laundry treating appliance can betop-loading or front-loading. In a top-loading laundry treatingappliance, laundry items are placed into the drum through an accessopening in the top of a cabinet, while in a front-loading laundrytreating appliance laundry items are placed into the drum through anaccess opening in the front of a cabinet. If a laundry treatingappliance is a top-loading horizontal axis laundry treating appliance ora front-loading vertical axis laundry treating appliance, an additionalaccess opening is located on the drum.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a laundry treatingappliance illustrated as a horizontal axis combination washer/dryer 10.It will be understood that the laundry treating appliance need not be acombination washing and drying laundry treating appliance, but that anysuitable laundry treating appliance for treating laundry items placedtherein, non-limiting examples of which include a horizontal or verticalaxis clothes washer; a horizontal or vertical axis clothes dryer; acombination washing machine and dryer; a tumbling or stationaryrefreshing/revitalizing machine; an extractor; a non-aqueous washingapparatus; and a revitalizing machine. While the laundry treatingappliance is illustrated herein as a horizontal axis, front-load laundrytreating appliance, the aspects of the present disclosure can haveapplicability in laundry treating appliances with other configurations.The laundry treating appliance shares many features of a conventionalautomated clothes washer and/or dryer, which will not be described indetail herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of theexemplary aspects in accordance with the present disclosure.

The combination washer/dryer 10 can include a structural supportassembly comprising a cabinet 12 which defines a housing within which alaundry holding assembly resides. The cabinet 12 can be a housing havinga chassis and/or a frame, to which decorative panels can or cannot bemounted, defining an interior, enclosing components typically found in aconventional laundry treating appliance, such as motors, pumps, fluidlines, controls, sensors, transducers, and the like. Such componentswill not be described further herein except as necessary for a completeunderstanding of the present disclosure.

The laundry holding assembly of the illustrated combination washer/dryer10 comprises a tub 14 dynamically suspended within the structuralsupport system of the cabinet 12 by a suitable suspension system 15, thetub 14 at least partially defining a treating chamber 18. A rotatabledrum 16 can be provided within the tub 14 to further define at least aportion of the laundry treating chamber 18. The drum 16 is configured toreceive a laundry load comprising articles for treatment, including, butnot limited to, a hat, a scarf, a glove, a sweater, a blouse, a shirt, apair of shorts, a dress, a sock, and a pair of pants, a shoe, anundergarment, and a jacket.

The drum 16 can include a plurality of perforations 20 such that liquidcan flow between the tub 14 and the drum 16 through the perforations 20.It is also within the scope of the present disclosure for the laundryholding system to comprise only one receptacle with the receptacledefining the laundry treating chamber 18 for receiving the load to betreated. At least one lifter 22 can extend from a wall of the drum 16 tolift the laundry load received in the treating chamber 18 while the drum16 rotates.

The laundry holding assembly can further include a closure, illustratedherein as a door assembly 24 which can be movably mounted to or coupledto the cabinet 12 to selectively close both the tub 14 and the drum 16,as well as the treating chamber 18. By way of non-limiting example, thedoor assembly 24 can be hingedly coupled to the cabinet 12 for movementbetween an opened condition (not shown) and a closed condition as shown.

A bellows 26 can extend between the tub 14 and the cabinet 12 to couplean open face of the tub 14 with the cabinet 12, with the door assembly24 sealing against the bellows 26 or the cabinet 12, or both, when thedoor assembly 24 closes the tub 14. In the opened condition, the doorassembly 24 can be spaced apart from the bellows 26 and can allow accessto the treating chamber 18. The bellows 26 can sealingly couple the openface of the tub 14 with the cabinet 12 such that liquid is not permittedto move from the tub 14 into the interior of the cabinet 12.

The combination washer/dryer 10 can further comprise a washing circuitwhich can include a liquid supply system for supplying water to thecombination washer/dryer 10 for use in treating laundry during a cycleof operation. The liquid supply system can include a source of water,such as a household water supply 30, which can include separate valves32, 34 for controlling the flow of hot and cold water, respectively. Thevalves 32, 34 can be opened individually or together to provide a mix ofhot and cold water at a selected temperature. The valves 32, 34 areselectively openable to supply water through an inlet conduit 36directly to the tub 14 or the drum 16 by controlling first and seconddiverter mechanisms 38 and 40, respectively. The diverter mechanisms 38,40 can each be a diverter valve having two outlets such that each of thediverter mechanisms 38, 40 can selectively direct a flow of liquid toone or both of two flow paths. Water from the household water supply 30can flow through the inlet conduit 36 to the first diverter mechanism 38which can direct the flow of liquid to a supply conduit 42. The seconddiverter mechanism 40 on the supply conduit 42 can direct the flow ofliquid to a tub outlet conduit 44 which can be provided with a spraynozzle 46 configured to spray the flow of liquid into the tub 14 in adesired pattern and under a desired amount of pressure. For example, thespray nozzle 46 can be configured to dispense a flow or stream of waterinto the tub 14 by gravity, i.e. a non-pressurized stream. In thismanner, water from the household water supply 30 can be supplieddirectly to the tub 14. While the valves 32, 34 and the inlet conduit 36are illustrated exteriorly of the cabinet 12, it will be understood thatthese components can be internal to the cabinet 12.

The combination washer/dryer 10 can also be provided with a dispensingsystem for dispensing treating chemistry to the treating chamber 18 foruse in treating the load of laundry according to a cycle of operation.The dispensing system can include a treating chemistry dispenser 52which can be a single dose dispenser, a bulk dispenser, or an integratedsingle dose and bulk dispenser and is fluidly coupled to the treatingchamber 18. Optionally, a sensor 53 can be positioned in or near thedispenser 52 to sense the presence of treating chemistry. The treatingchemistry dispenser 52 can be configured to dispense a treatingchemistry directly to the tub 14 or mixed with water from the liquidsupply system through a dispensing outlet conduit 54. Further, waterfrom the water supply 30 can also be supplied to the tub 14 through thetreating chemistry dispenser without the addition of treating chemistry.The dispensing outlet conduit 54 can include a dispensing nozzle 56configured to dispense the treating chemistry into the tub 14 in adesired pattern and under a desired amount of pressure. For example, thedispensing nozzle 56 can be configured to dispense a flow or stream oftreating chemistry into the tub 14 by gravity, i.e. a non-pressurizedstream. Water can be supplied to the treating chemistry dispenser 52from the supply conduit 42 by directing the diverter mechanism 40 todirect the flow of water to a dispensing supply conduit 58.

The treating chemistry dispenser 52 can include multiple chambers orreservoirs for receiving doses of different treating chemistries. Thetreating chemistry dispenser 52 can be implemented as a dispensingdrawer that is slidably received within the cabinet 12, or within aseparate dispenser housing which can be provided in the cabinet 12. Thetreating chemistry dispenser 52 can be moveable between a fill position,where the treating chemistry dispenser 52 is exterior to the cabinet 12and can be filled with treating chemistry, and a dispense position,where the treating chemistry dispenser 52 are interior of the cabinet12.

Non-limiting examples of treating chemistries that can be dispensed bythe dispensing system during a cycle of operation include one or more ofthe following: water, detergents, surfactants, enzymes, fragrances,stiffness/sizing agents, wrinkle releasers/reducers, softeners,antistatic or electrostatic agents, stain repellants, water repellants,energy reduction/extraction aids, antibacterial agents, medicinalagents, vitamins, moisturizers, shrinkage inhibitors, and color fidelityagents, and combinations thereof. The treating chemistries can be in theform of a liquid, powder, or any other suitable phase or state ofmatter.

The combination washer/dryer 10 can also include a recirculation anddrain system for recirculating liquid within the laundry holding systemand draining liquid from the combination washer/dryer 10. Liquidsupplied to the tub 14 through tub outlet conduit 44 and/or thedispensing supply conduit 58 typically enters a space 59 between the tub14 and the drum 16 and can flow by gravity to a sump 60 formed in partby a lower portion of the tub 14. The sump 60 can also be formed by asump conduit 62 that can fluidly couple the lower portion of the tub 14to a pump 64. The pump 64 have an inlet fluidly coupled with the sump 60and an outlet configured to fluidly couple to and to direct liquid to adrain conduit 66, which can drain the liquid from the combinationwasher/dryer 10, or to a recirculation conduit 68, which can terminateat a recirculation inlet 70. The recirculation inlet 70 can direct theliquid from the recirculation conduit 68 into the drum 16. Therecirculation inlet 70 can introduce the liquid into the drum 16 in anysuitable manner, such as by spraying, dripping, or providing a steadyflow of liquid. In this manner, liquid provided to the tub 14, with orwithout treating chemistry can be recirculated into the treating chamber18 for treating the load of laundry within. The recirculation and drainassembly can include other types of recirculation systems.

The liquid supply and/or recirculation and drain system can be providedwith a heating system which can include one or more devices for heatinglaundry and/or liquid supplied to the tub 14, such as a steam generator72, an inline heater 73, and/or a sump heater 74. Liquid from thehousehold water supply 30 can be provided to the steam generator 72through the inlet conduit 36 by controlling the first diverter mechanism38 to direct the flow of liquid to a steam supply conduit 76. Steamgenerated by the steam generator 72 can be supplied to the tub 14through a steam outlet conduit 77. The steam generator 72 can be anysuitable type of steam generator such as a flow through steam generatoror a tank-type steam generator. Alternatively, the sump heater 74 can beused to generate steam in place of or in addition to the steam generator72. In addition or alternatively to generating steam, the steamgenerator 72 and/or sump heater 74 can be used to heat the laundryand/or liquid within the tub 14 as part of a cycle of operation. Thesump heater 74 can be provided within the sump 60 to heat liquid thatcollects in the sump 60. Alternatively, the heating assembly can includean in-line heater that heats the liquid as it flows through the liquidsupply, dispensing, and/or recirculation assemblies.

It is noted that the illustrated suspension system, liquid supplysystem, recirculation and drain system, and dispensing system are shownfor exemplary purposes only and are not limited to the systems shown inthe drawings and described above. For example, the liquid supply,dispensing, and recirculation and pump systems can differ from theconfiguration shown in FIG. 1, such as by inclusion of other valves,conduits, treating chemistry dispensers, sensors, such as water levelsensors and temperature sensors, and the like, to control the flow ofliquid through the combination washer/dryer 10 and for the introductionof more than one type of treating chemistry. For example, the liquidsupply system can include a single valve for controlling the flow ofwater from the household water source. In another example, therecirculation and pump system can include two separate pumps forrecirculation and draining, instead of the single pump as previouslydescribed. In yet another example, the liquid supply assembly can beconfigured to supply liquid into the interior of the drum 16 or into theinterior of the tub 14 not occupied by the drum 16, such that liquid canbe supplied directly to the tub 14 without having to travel through thedrum 16.

The combination washer/dryer 10 also includes a drive system forrotating the drum 16 within the tub 14. The drive system can include amotor 78, which can be directly coupled with the drum 16 through a driveshaft 80 to rotate the drum 16 about a rotational axis during a cycle ofoperation. The motor 78 can be a brushless permanent magnet (BPM) motorhaving a stator 82 and a rotor 84. Alternately, the motor 78 can becoupled to the drum 16 through a belt and a drive shaft to rotate thedrum 16, as is known in the art. Other motors, such as an inductionmotor or a permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor, can also be used. Themotor 78 can rotate the drum 16 at various speeds in either rotationaldirection.

The motor 78 can rotate the drum 16 at various speeds in oppositerotational directions. In particular, the motor 78 can rotate the drum16 at tumbling speeds wherein the fabric items in the drum 16 rotatewith the drum 16 from a lowest location of the drum 16 towards a highestlocation of the drum 16, but fall back to the lowest location of thedrum 16 before reaching the highest location of the drum 16. Therotation of the fabric items with the drum 16 can be facilitated by theat least one lifter 22. Typically, the force applied to the fabric itemsat the tumbling speeds is less than about 1 G. Alternatively, the motor78 can rotate the drum 16 at spin speeds wherein the fabric items rotatewith the drum 16 without falling. The spin speeds can also be referredto as satellizing speeds or sticking speeds. Typically, the forceapplied to the fabric items at the spin speeds is greater than or aboutequal to 1 G. As used herein, “tumbling” of the drum 16 refers torotating the drum at a tumble speed, “spinning” the drum 16 refers torotating the drum 16 at a spin speed, and “rotating” of the drum 16refers to rotating the drum 16 at any speed.

The combination washer/dryer 10 can further comprise a drying aircircuit 90 fluidly coupled to the treating chamber 18 for drying laundryitems. The drying air circuit 90 can be a closed loop circuit or an openloop circuit. The drying air circuit 90 can comprise a treating chamberair inlet 92 and a treating chamber air outlet 94, and specifically canbe fluidly coupled with the treating chamber air inlet 92 and thetreating chamber air outlet 94 and configured to supply drying airthrough the treating chamber 18 from the treating chamber air inlet 92to the treating chamber air outlet 94. While the treating chamber airinlet 92 is illustrated herein as being provided on the bellows 26, itwill be understood that the treating chamber air inlet 92 can be anyprovided at any suitable position of the treating chamber 18, includingas an opening in at least one of the drum 16 or the tub 14. The treatingchamber air outlet 94 is illustrated herein as being provided at a rearwall of the tub 14, the drum 16, and the treating chamber 18, thoughsuch a position is not limiting. The treating chamber air outlet 94 caninclude a filter 93 to prevent lint from entering the drying air circuit90. The treating chamber air inlet 92 and the treating chamber airoutlet 94 can be provided at any suitable locations of the treatingchamber 18 so long as they are spaced from one another to allow dryingair to flow through the treating chamber 18.

In one example, the drying air circuit 90 can be provided as a closedloop, or recirculating, drying air circuit 90, as illustrated herein.The closed loop drying air circuit 90 can define a drying air flowpathway, as indicated by the arrows 95, to recirculate air through thetreating chamber 18. The closed loop drying air circuit 90 can include acondenser 96, a blower 98, a heating portion 100, and a drying airconduit 102. The condenser 96 can be provided with a condenser drainconduit (not shown) that fluidly couples the condenser 96 with the pump64 and the drain conduit 66. Condensed liquid collected within thecondenser 96 can flow through the condenser drain conduit to the pump64, where it can be provided to the recirculation and drain assembly.The blower 98 is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber 18 such thatactuation of the blower 98 supplies or circulates air through thetreating chamber 18 by flowing air from the treating chamber air inlet92 to the treating chamber air outlet 94. The heating portion 100 canenclose at least one heater or heating element (not shown) that isconfigured to heat recirculating air that flows through the drying aircircuit 90. In one example, the drying air circuit 90 can be providedadjacent an upper portion of the tub 14, though it will be understoodthat the drying air circuit 90 need not be provided adjacent the upperportion of the tub 14, and can be provided at any suitable locationadjacent the tub 14 or the treating chamber 18.

In one example, the drying air flow pathway 95 can pass through thecomponents of the closed loop drying air circuit 90 such that airexiting the treating chamber 18 through the treating chamber air outlet94 flows through the condenser 96, through the blower 98, through theheating portion 100 to be heated to become drying air, and then throughthe drying air conduit 102 to enter the treating chamber 18 through thetreating chamber air inlet 92. However, while the blower 98 isillustrated herein as being provided in between the condenser 96 and theheating portion 100, and specifically downstream of the condenser 96 andupstream of the heating portion 100, it will be understood that theblower 98 can be provided at any suitable location within the drying aircircuit 90 so as to drive the supply of air along the drying air flowpathway 95. By way of non-limiting example, the blower 98 can beprovided between the treating chamber air outlet 94 and the condenser 96or between the heating portion 100 and the treating chamber air inlet92. Further, while the closed loop drying air circuit 90 is illustratedherein as including both the condenser 96 and the heating portion 100,it will be understood that the closed loop drying air circuit 90 couldalso include the condenser 96, but not the heating portion 100, or couldinclude the heating portion 100, but not the condenser 96.

When the drying air circuit 90 is provided as an open loop drying aircircuit 90, the condenser 96 is not necessary. Alternatively, the blower98, instead of being fluidly coupled with the condenser 96, can befluidly coupled with an ambient air source, which can draw ambient aireither from within the cabinet 12 or from the exterior of the cabinet12. The ambient air can be provided from the blower 98 to the heatingportion 100 to be heated to be provided through the drying air conduit102 to enter the treating chamber 18 through the treating chamber airinlet 92. Air that flows through the treating chamber 18 and gathersmoisture from the laundry items within the treating chamber 18, and isthen exhausted through the treating chamber air outlet 94 and can beexhausted to the exterior of the cabinet 12. As the drying air is notbeing recirculated to the treating chamber 18, no condensing isnecessary. In such an example, while the blower 98 is illustrated asbeing provided upstream of the heating portion 100, it will also beunderstood that the blower 98 can be provided between the heatingportion 100 and the treating chamber air inlet 92. Additionally oralternatively, the same blower 98 or an additional blower 98 can beprovided downstream of the treating chamber air outlet 94 to draw theexhaust air out of the treating chamber 18.

The combination washer/dryer 10 also includes a control system forcontrolling the operation of the combination washer/dryer 10 toimplement one or more cycles of operation. The control system caninclude a controller 106 located within the cabinet 12 and a userinterface 108 that is operably coupled with the controller 106. The userinterface 108 can provide an input and output function for thecontroller 106. In one example, the user interface 108 can be providedor integrated with the door assembly 24. In another example, as shown,the user interface 108 can be provided on a front panel of the cabinet12.

The user interface 108 can include one or more knobs, dials, switches,displays, touch screens and the like for communicating with the user,such as to receive input and provide output. For example, the displayscan include any suitable communication technology including that of aliquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) array, or anysuitable display that can convey a message to the user. The user canenter different types of information including, without limitation,cycle selection and cycle parameters, such as cycle options. Othercommunications paths and methods can also be included in the combinationwasher/dryer 10 and can allow the controller 106 to communicate with theuser in a variety of ways. For example, the controller 106 can beconfigured to send a text message to the user, send an electronic mailto the user, or provide audio information to the user either through thecombination washer/dryer 10 or utilizing another device such as a mobilephone.

The controller 106 can include the machine controller and any additionalcontrollers provided for controlling any of the components of thecombination washer/dryer 10. For example, the controller 106 can includethe machine controller and a motor controller. Many known types ofcontrollers can be used for the controller 106. It is contemplated thatthe controller is a microprocessor-based controller that implementscontrol software and sends/receives one or more electrical signalsto/from each of the various working components to effect the controlsoftware. As an example, proportional control (P), proportional integralcontrol (PI), and proportional derivative control (PD), or a combinationthereof, a proportional integral derivative control (PID control), canbe used to control the various components.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the controller 106 can be provided with amemory 110 and a central processing unit (CPU) 112. The memory 110 canbe used for storing the control software that is executed by the CPU 112in completing a cycle of operation using the combination washer/dryer 10and any additional software. Examples, without limitation, of cycles ofoperation include: wash, heavy duty wash, delicate wash, quick wash,pre-wash, refresh, rinse only, timed wash, dry, heavy duty dry, delicatedry, quick dry, or automatic dry, which can be selected at the userinterface 108. The memory 110 can also be used to store information,such as a database or table, and to store data received from one or morecomponents of the combination washer/dryer 10 that can be communicablycoupled with the controller 106. The database or table can be used tostore the various operating parameters for the one or more cycles ofoperation, including factory default values for the operating parametersand any adjustments to them by the control system or by user input.

The controller 106 can be operably coupled with one or more componentsof the combination washer/dryer 10 for communicating with andcontrolling the operation of the component to complete a cycle ofoperation. For example, the controller 106 can be operably coupled withthe valves 32, 34 and the diverter mechanisms 38, 40 for controlling thetemperature and flow rate of treating liquid into the treating chamber18, the motor 78 for controlling the direction and speed of rotation ofthe drum 16, the pump 64 for controlling the amount of treating liquidin the treating chamber 18 or sump 60, the treating chemistry dispenser52 for controlling the flow of treating chemistries into the treatingchamber 18, the user interface 108 for receiving user selected inputsand communicating information to the user, the steam generator 72, thesump heater 74, and the drying air circuit 90, including the blower 98and the heating portion 100, to control the operation of these and othercomponents to implement one or more of the cycles of operation.

The controller 106 can also be coupled with one or more sensors 104provided in one or more of the assemblies of the combinationwasher/dryer 10 to receive input from the sensors 104, which are knownin the art and not shown for simplicity. Non-limiting examples ofsensors 104 that can be communicably coupled with the controller 106include: a treating chamber temperature sensor, such as a thermistor,which can detect the temperature of the treating liquid in the treatingchamber 18 and/or the temperature of the treating liquid being suppliedto the treating chamber 18, a moisture sensor, a weight sensor, achemical sensor, a position sensor, an imbalance sensor, a load sizesensor, and a motor torque sensor, which can be used to determine avariety of assembly and laundry characteristics, such as laundry loadinertia or mass. In one example, a characteristic determined by thecontroller 106 based on input from sensors 104 can include adetermination of whether treating chemistry has been added to a singledose dispenser prior to beginning a cycle of operation.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart of a method of operating a lint cleanout routine(LCR) 130 in the combination washer/dryer 10. It is contemplated thatthe LCR 130 can be implemented automatically as part of a wash cycle, orcan be implemented manually when a user selects a LCR 130 at the userinterface 108. For example, the user interface could have a user inputallowing the user to select an LCR, allowing the user the run theroutine at any time. The LCR 130 comprises a fill 132, a rotate 134, anda drain 136. At the filling 132, a charge of water is added to the tub14. The rotating 134 comprises rotating the drum 16 at a predeterminedspeed for a predetermined length of time to result in dynamic orturbulent water passing across the filter 93 to dislodge lint from thefilter 93. At drain 136, lint and water from the lint cleanout routine130 are drained from the sump 60 by the pump 64 via the drain conduit66.

FIG. 3B schematically illustrates the LCR 130 in the combinationwasher/dryer 10. By way of non-limiting example, the LCR 130 begins withthe fill 132 with a charge of water 138 added to the tub 14 that issufficient to partially immerse the drum 16, but not immerse the filter93. For a typical machine, it is contemplated that such a charge ofwater will be 60 deciliters (about 1.58 US gallons), which is less thanthe amount of water for a typical treating cycle of operation. Ofcourse, the amount of water is dependent on the size of the tub anddrum, the location of the drum in the tub, and the location of thefilter 93 relative to the drum.

After filling 132 is completed, or, even during filling, 132, rotatingis initiated at 134, where the drum 16 rotated such that the drum 16interacts with the water 138 to impart sloshing of a portion 140 of thewater 138 onto the filter 93. For a typical machine, it is contemplatedto rotate the drum in direction coming up toward the bottom of thefilter, which would be counter-clockwise in FIG. 3B, and forapproximately 30 seconds. While the motion of the water is described as“sloshing”, any motion that removes the lint from the filter 93 isacceptable. The rotating 134 is intended to create some type of watermovement that will remove the lint from the filter. While the movementof the water is accomplished by rotating the drum 16, it is contemplatedthat other devices could be used to effect such movement of the water,including dedicated devices such as a baffle, stirrer or pressurizedair.

During or after completion of the rotating 134, a draining 136 isimplemented to remove the lint-laden water from the tub. The drainingcan be accomplished by energizing the drain pump and draining thelint-laden water out the drain conduit 66.

Variations to the described LCR are contemplated. For example, theamount of water 138 required for the fill 132 can be varied from thatdescribed. The amount of water needed can be machine dependent and isthe amount of water 138 required to interact with the drum 16, or otherwater moving device, to sufficiently dislodge at least some of the lintfrom the filter 93. For machines using the rotating drum to move thewater, the amount of water should immerse enough of the drum such thatrotation of the drum will move the water to wash the lint from thefilter. Additional water is not needed and will create an additionalload on the motor while it tries to rotate the drum through the water.That said, if a powerful enough motor were available, the amount ofwater could fully or partially immerse the filter 93. However, suchimmersing of the filter 93 undesirably consumes more resources in thatmore water is used and the motor would consume more electricity to movethe greater amount of water as compared to the water level where theinlet is not immersed. Further, because the filter 93 is at the treatingchamber air outlet 94 which is fluidly connected to the condenser 96,immersing the filter 93 in the water 138 could result in water enteringthe treating chamber air outlet 94 or the condenser 96 which may resultin decreased efficiency of the drying air circuit 90 due to the presenceof water in the drying air circuit 90 or damage to portions of thedrying air circuit 90.

The rotating 134 can be varied from what was described. The rotating 134can include a single rotation cycle, or multiple rotation cycles, whichmay be separated by a pause or dwell, before proceeding to draining 136.The length of time, speed, and direction for each rotation cycle can bethe same or different. The length of time, speed, and rotation directionof each rotation or a combination of rotations can be determined by thedegree of interaction between the water 138 of the filling 132 and thefilter 93 required to impart the amount of sloshing required to dislodgelint from the filter 93. The required turbulence of the water 138 todislodge lint from the filter 93 can also determine the speed anddirection of rotation of the drum 16 during each rotation. The drum 16can be rotated counterclockwise, clockwise, in a reciprocating fashionalternating between counterclockwise and clockwise, or a combination.

When or if to implement the LCR 130 can be an issue depending on thetype of laundry treating appliance. Some laundry treating appliancesinclude only a single water supply fluidly connecting the householdwater supply to the treating chamber, with the single water supplypassing through the treating chemistry dispenser for use in carrying thetreating chemistry to the treating chamber. In this type of laundrytreating appliance, since executing an LCR includes supplying water tothe tub, any treating chemistry in the dispenser would be flushed fromthe dispenser into the tub during the filling 132 and drained out of theappliance during the draining 136. Flushing the treating chemistry priorto a wash cycle would result in running the cycle without treatingchemistry and wastes treating chemistry by simply flushing it out of theappliance. Given that flushing treating chemistry out of the laundrytreating appliance prior to a wash cycle is not desirable, it is prudentto determine if a treating chemistry dispenser contains treatingchemistry prior to initiating an LCR. If the treating chemistrydispenser does contain treating chemistry, then the LCR can be delayedto avoid prematurely flushing treating chemistry from the dispenser.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a method 120 of operating the controller 106 todetermine when or if to run the lint cleanout routine (LCR) 130 isdescribed. The method 120 begins when any type of wash cycle is selectedby a user at 122. At 124, the controller 106 determines whether theprevious cycle performed by the combination washer/dryer 10 was orincluded any type of a dry cycle. If a dry cycle was not previously run,then there wouldn't be any appreciable collection of lint on the filterand there is no need to run the LCR 130. When it is determined that nodry cycle was previously run, then the LCR is not implemented and theselected wash cycle is run at 128.

If a dry cycle of any type was previously run, then execution of the LCR130 is desirable and decision control is passed to a check at 126 todetermine if there is treating chemistry in a single dose dispenserwhich would be undesirably flushed out by executing the LCR 130. Thecheck at 126 can be done for any machine, but is most suitable formachines with one water supply that passes through the dispenser. Forthe check at 126, the controller 106 determines whether the single dosedispenser is “selected” for the current cycle. The single dose dispensercan be selected manually by a user via selection of a cycle requiringmanual addition of treatment chemistry to the single dose dispenser, ora user can manually select the single dose dispenser from the userinterface 108. The single dose dispenser can also be selectedautomatically upon adding treating chemistry to the single dosedispenser, for example, a sensor 53 in or near the single dose dispensercan sense the presence or the addition of treating chemistry to thesingle dose dispenser and send a signal to the controller 106 indicatingthe presence of treating chemistry in the single dose dispenser. If thesingle dose dispenser is not selected, then the LCR 130 is initiated,after which the method proceeds to the selected wash cycle at 128. Ifthe single dose dispenser is selected, the LCR 130 will not be initiatedand the method continues to the selected wash cycle 128.

Some laundry treating appliances can include a secondary water supply or‘fresh fill’ that is not fluidly connected to a treating chemistrydispenser. In this type of laundry treating appliance, if supplyingwater to the tub 14 during the filling 132 of the LCR 130 can beexecuted by the secondary water supply, then the LCR 130 can beinitiated without premature flushing of treating chemistry from thedispenser. For example, the combination washer/dryer 10 can have asecondary water supply via the second diverter mechanism 40 and thespray nozzle 46 configured to supply water from the household supply 30directly to the tub 14, or to a condenser valve inlet. Since thesecondary water supply can be configured to bypass the single dosedispenser, the method 120 can simply determine whether the previouscycle was a dry cycle at 124, and if yes, then the method can proceed tothe LCR 130 prior to running the selected wash cycle 128.

Optionally, if the combination washer/dryer 10 is equipped with bulkdispensing, the controller 106 can determine whether a bulk dispenserhas been selected for the current cycle. Selection of the bulk dispenserto dispense treating chemistry for the cycle of operation can passivelyindicate the non-selection of the single dose dispenser to thecontroller 106. The bulk dispenser can be selected by a user viaselection of a cycle requiring bulk dispensing, manually selecting thebulk dispenser from the user interface 108, or the bulk dispenser can beselected automatically by the controller 106 if the presence of treatingchemistry in the single dose dispenser is not detected by a sensor. In acombination washer/dryer 10 with only a single water inlet configured toenter the single dose dispensing chamber, selection of the bulkdispenser can provide the indication to the controller 106 that thesingle dose dispenser is not selected for the cycle of operationallowing water to enter the single dose dispensing chamber without thepremature addition of treating chemistry to the cycle of operation, andtherefore, the method 120 can initiate the lint cleanout routine (LCR)130 prior to the wash cycle 128. Conversely, the non-selection of thebulk dispenser can passively indicate the selection of the single dosedispenser, in which case, the method 120 does not initiate the LCR 130and proceeds to the selected wash cycle 128.

Alternatively, the method 120 can include both single dose dispenser andbulk dispenser selection detection where the controller 106 can firstdetermine whether a bulk dispenser has been selected and then whether asingle dose dispenser has been selected at 126, or vice-versa, prior todetermining whether to initiate the LCR 130.

To the extent not already described, the different features andstructures of the various aspects can be used in combination with eachother as desired, or can be used separately. That one feature can not beillustrated in all of the aspects is not meant to be construed that itcannot be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the variousfeatures of the different aspects can be mixed and matched as desired toform new aspects, whether or not the new aspects are expresslydescribed.

While the present disclosure has been specifically described inconnection with certain specific aspects thereof, it is to be understoodthat this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonablevariation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoingdisclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the presentdisclosure. Hence, specific dimensions and other physicalcharacteristics relating to the aspects disclosed herein are not to beconsidered as limiting, unless expressly stated otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of cleaning a lint filter in acombination washer/dryer having a tub, a controller, a drum rotatablymounted within the tub, an air conduit having a port fluidly connectedto the tub, and a lint filter fluidly coupled to the portion and locatedin the tub, the method comprising: supplying, to the tub, a charge ofwater sufficient to at least partially immerse the drum while notimmersing the lint filter; and rotating the drum for a predeterminedperiod of time.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determiningby the controller whether a previous cycle performed by the combinationwasher/dryer was a dry cycle.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein thedetermining by the controller is completed prior to initiating thesupplying the charge of water or rotating the drum.
 4. The method ofclaim 3 wherein if the dry cycle was not performed, supplying the chargeof water and rotating the drum does not occur.
 5. The method of claim 1further comprising determining by the controller whether the single dosedispenser is selected for the current cycle such that the single dosedispenser comprises a treating chemistry.
 6. The method of claim 5wherein the selection of the single dose dispenser comprises one ofmanual selection by a user via selection of a cycle requiring manualaddition of treatment chemistry to the single dose dispenser, or, manualselection of the single dose dispenser by a user from the userinterface, or, by automatic selection upon sensing the presence oftreating chemistry on the single dose dispenser.
 7. The method of claim6 wherein a sensor senses the presence of treating chemistry in thesingle dose dispenser.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the determiningby the controller whether the single dose dispenser is selected iscompleted prior to initiating the supplying the charge of water orrotating the drum.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein if the controllerdetermines a single dose dispenser is selected then the supping thecharge of water and rotating the drum does not occur.
 10. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising determining by the controller whether thecombination washer/dryer comprises a secondary water supply.
 11. Themethod of claim 10 wherein the secondary water supply bypasses thesingle dose dispenser.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the supplyingthe charge of water occurs through the secondary water supply.
 13. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising determining by the controllerwhether the combination washer/dryer comprises a bulk dispenser.
 14. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the method is implemented automatically at thestart of a user selection of a wash cycle.
 15. The method of claim 1wherein the method is implemented manually when a user selects a lintclean out routine at the user interface.
 16. A method of cleaning a lintfilter in a combination washer/dryer having a tub, a controller, a drumrotatably mounted within the tub, an air conduit having a port fluidlyconnected to the tub, and a lint filter fluidly coupled to the portionand located in the tub, the method comprising: determining by thecontroller whether a previous cycle performed by the combinationwasher/dryer was a dry cycle; determining by the controller whether asingle dose dispenser is selected for the current cycle; supplying, tothe tub, a charge of water sufficient to at least partially immerse thedrum while not immersing the lint filter; and rotating the drum for apredetermined period of time if the controller determines the previouscycle was a dry cycle and the single dose dispenser is not selected. 17.The method of claim 15 wherein the method is implemented automaticallyat the start of a user selection of a wash cycle.
 18. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the method is implemented manually when a user selects alint clean out routine at the user interface.
 19. The method of claim 16wherein the selection of the single dose dispenser comprises one ofmanual selection by a user via selection of a cycle requiring manualaddition of treatment chemistry to the single dose dispenser, or, manualselection of the single dose dispenser by a user from the userinterface, or by automatic selection upon sensing the presence oftreating chemistry on the single dose dispenser.
 20. The method of claim19 wherein a sensor senses the presence of treating chemistry in thesingle dose dispenser.